Have you ever been to Venice, Italy? Wow, what a wonderfully romantic place! When you ride in a gondola together by Marco Polo’s house, stroll on St. Mark’s Square while holding hands, enjoy the grandeur of the Doges Palace, or share a bottle of Italian wine at one of the many intimate restaurants in Venice, you quickly learn that you are in a place where love transcends everything! Venice pulls at the heartstrings of love. Make no mistake about that. In so many ways, Venice is love!

Our new book entitled Simple Things Matter in Love and Marriage (due out in July, 2009), is a true and personal testament by many to the importance of doing the simple things day in and day out to make their marriages vibrant and alive. One trip to Venice, Italy will reinforce the importance of this simple notion – simple things do matter in love and marriage, even in Venice, Italy!

We have been to the “City of Love” five times in our 43 years together. Every time we go, we become enthralled once again with the beauty of Venice and the romance that it engenders in all the lovebirds that go there. And there are millions that do!

While we don’t expect all of our readers to immediately head to Venice, the “City of Love,” we do hope you will find that one place you and the one you love can go to share your love with each other. Venice has become our “special place.” Have you found yours?

Over the years, we have learned from our research that nearly every successfully married couple that has shared love and marriage together for most of a lifetime have always had a special place or places to go to be in love and to share their time together. To be in love is a very special place to be in life, make no mistake about that! And having someone to love for a lifetime is the stuff of most successful marriages. Having a special place to go nourishes love and is so very important to the sustenance of love.

There is a stanza to an old song that goes something like this, “When you fall in love it will be forever.” True love is, after all, the pinnacle of love. To truly be in love is, in so many ways, the nirvana of the best loving relationships. Long-lasting love can, indeed, last forever.

Our 26 years of research has taught us much about the best marriages – marriages across continents, countries, and cultures. But of all the lessons we have learned, we know this – those in love and engaged in a successful marriage always have their special places to go together – a place to share their special moments – a place to build their special reservoir of love for each other.

For the two of us, it is Venice, Italy. To be in Venice, to see Venice, and to feel Venice, reminds us of the enduring love we have for each other. It is a special place for us. Venice cultivates our love, it cherishes our love, it causes our love to endure. It reminds us once again – love for a lifetime is something to embrace. Love forever is the centerpiece of the best loving relationships. The best marriages always remind us of the importance of having special places to go to share love.

It is our profound hope that you will find your “special place.” In love, life, relationships, and in marriage, we are always reminded of this – love is personally the most meaningful at the “true love level” – that place where people engage in love on a very personal level – a very meaningful and heartfelt level.

All of the best marriages survive and thrive because they become personally and exquisitely meaningful. So, go find your Venice. Go find your place to love and to be in love.

Always remember, in love and life, the simple things matter. Whether your Venice is in Italy or across town, it is important that you find it tomorrow! Your marriage will be enhanced, your love will be strengthened, and your love will last a lifetime.

Go find your place to create memories, hold hands, be intimate with the one you love, and where you can stroll down the streets and avenues of love together.

By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitz
Authors of Golden Anniversaries: The Seven Secrets of Successful Marriage
Winner of the INDIE Book Awards GOLD Medal for Best Relationship Book
Winner of the 2009 Mom’s Choice Awards GOLD Medal for Most Outstanding Relationships and Marriage Book

Author's Bio:

Now you can order the Doctors' award winning marriage book, Golden Anniversaries: The Seven Secrets of Successful Marriage at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com or www.GoldenAnniversaries.com, the 2009 Mom’s Choice Awards Gold Medal Winner for Most Outstanding Relationships and Marriage Book. With 26 years of research experience on successful marriage and their own 42-year marriage, Drs. Charles and Elizabeth Schmitz know what makes marriage work. From their hundreds of interviews with happily married couples, representing 15,000 years of marriage, they've discovered the seven pervasive characteristics present in all successful marriages. Their book exposes the secrets for success through these poignant, real life stories.

During their distinguished careers the Doctors have received some 65 local, state, and national awards; published nearly 350 articles and manuscripts; delivered over 1000 speeches, workshops and public presentations; traveled throughout the world; and appeared on radio and television and in the print media. Dr. Charles D. Schmitz is Dean and Professor of Family and Counseling Therapy at the University of Missouri in St. Louis and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitz is President of Successful Marriage Reflections, LLC.